VIDEO · Mexican Nyan Cat

Nyan Cat (also known as Pop Tart Cat) is an internet meme, referring to an 8-bit animated gif of a cat with the body of a cherry Pop-Tart flying through space, leaving a rainbow trail behind the cat. But I digress, here's the Mexican version complete with the body of a burrito and "El Mariachi Loco" playing in the background. Adorable!

SHOPPING · A Mexican Classic Corona Extra Tray on Ebay!

Completely fortuitous find: classic Corona Extra tray featuring the  classic pin-up-esque china poblana.

You can buy right here from Blendboutique UK.

ART · Las Señoritas Fabric by Alexander Henry Made into a Handbag and a Cushion Cover!

The fabric in itself is wonderful but once it's been made into something, it's just awesome! What Goes Around, from Folksy is responsible for these beauties:

Made from 100% cotton. Fully lined with a pocket more than big enough to take your mobile.
The bag is28cm wide X 18cm high (fabric part, not including handles) 

100% cotton, high quality designer fabric with a hollow fibre cushion pad.
The back is 100% cotton in a plain cream colour, with an overlap.
Approx. 43cmX43cm. 

CULTURE · Today in México Día de la Bandera (Flag Day) is Celebrated

Flag Day, or Dia de la Bandera, in Mexico symbolizes the pride that Mexicans have in their flag. Although they were colonized by Spain in the 1500s, the deep running pride for their country remains the same. The origin of the flag comes from the Aztecs, who believed that when they found the eagle perched on a nopal (prickly pear cactus) with a serpent in his talons that is where they were supposed to settle. That’s exactly what they did! The flags colors are green, white, and red. The green stands for hope and victory, and white stands for purity, and the red band represents the blood that was shed by their ancestors. The eagle on the cactus with the snake sits in the middle of the white band. Flag day is a day that Mexicans take to remember their country and how it came into being. In the schools, they teach the children about the origins of the flag and the nation anthem, and they often focus on the subject via TV shows and special programs. . Flag Day in Mexico is a special day that families can get together and celebrate their pride in their country. There are often parades and contests for people to enter with the most creative Mexico Flag idea for the day. 

Via www.mexicoadventure.com

COMMENT · A deliciously tongue in cheek article about how Mexican food is ruining Gringos' lives

This is more like the sort of educated humour we were expecting from Top Gear's trio grande. Oh well nevermind.

Stop Making Delicious Food I Can't Stop Eating And Go Back To Mexico 

By James Whittington AUGUST 24, 2010This isn't the country I grew up in anymore. It used to be a place where hardworking Americans could make an honest living, support their families, and feel safe walking the streets. It used to be a place that rewarded decency and fairness. But now, thanks to the millions of illegal immigrants crossing our borders every year, all that's changed—and I for one have had enough. So listen up, Mexicans: Stop cooking all that mouthwatering food that I cannot stop consuming and go home!I am dead serious. We didn't invite you here, and it's high time you quit making all those rich, complex mole sauces that seem to fire every taste bud on my tongue and return to your native land. There's no room for you here.Yes, your sauces satisfy the body as well as the soul. But does that excuse the throngs of day laborers waiting on the corner every morning for jobs that rightfully belong to someone born in the USA? Even if that heavenly sauce is drizzled over seared duck breast and is studded with ripe avocados?No, sir. Not in my book...

Full article from The Onion here

RECIPE · The Magic of the Plain Quesadilla

With Mexican food, sometimes less is more.

People outside México are often led to believe that food is always overelaborate, showy and real gooey. That's not always the case and quesadillas are an example of that. A true quesadilla is nothing but a corn tortilla folded in half, filled with oaxacan cheese and warmed up on a hot pan until the cheese melts. Quick, cheap and really easy to make.

You might need some extra oomph though, so you can add a lick of refried beans, dip it in guacamole, salsa verde or salsa pico de gallo, or even just have some jalapeño chilies on the side to nibble on between bites (that's SUCH a Mexican thing to do).

So in order to prepare a plain quesadilla making do with stuff available in most supermarkets in the UK you need:

• Old El Paso Corn Tortillas 
• Grated mozarella such as Sainsbury's Basics Grated Mozzarella

We've found that this cheese is the most similar to Oaxacan cheese (cheddar tends to be a bit too strong even in its mildest variety). Also, pictured are some Mexican Discovery Green Jalapeños.

Then all you need to do is to heat up a pan (no need to add oil), warm up the tortilla and add the grated cheese. Fold it in half and keep cooking until the cheese has melted. Eat immediately!

Again, this isn't proper Mexican as such. Ideally the tortillas would be 100% corn (Old El Paso Corn Tortillas are only 27% corn flour and the rest is wheat flour).

OK, so where on Earth to get proper tortillas and salsas you ask?

That proves a bit more difficult than simply popping down to your local Sainsbury's but it's not impossible. Cool Chile sells packs of a dozen corn tortillas here, and we just found out about Rico Mexican Kitchen who have an impressive array of salsas right here. If you live in London, go to Wholefoods Market and ask for Sabores Aztecas Green Salsa for the most amazing tomatillo salsa imported directly from México.

NEWS · The Daily Star apologises to the Mexican Embassy for Top Geargate

Reporter Ricardo Peppernap from The Daily Star, apologises for Top Gear incident by taking some Chilango burritos to the Mexican Embassy. Wearing a sarape, sombrero and a big fat moustache ¬_¬

Embassy guy Ariel Morales doesn't look impresed.

Article here

COMMENT · Come on Topgear, you can do better than that

Or maybe not.

Eduardo Medina Mora has written to the BBC about "insults" made by Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

Discussing a Mexican sports car, Hammond said vehicles reflected national characteristics so "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy".

The BBC did not comment but said it would respond directly to Mr Mora.

Reviewing the Mastretta on Sunday's show, Hammond said: "Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."

Source 

Yes the new Mexican sports car is probably crap, so why not leave it at that and move on? There are so many ways in which you can be funny without resorting to slaggin off an entire culture. How about suggesting that the honk only plays La Cucaracha or that the car runs on mezcal instead of petrol? No? Not prejudiced and offensive enough?

This went way beyond a stereotype you can laugh off. Hammond wouldn't get away with saying "Imagine waking up everyday and remembering you're  ____________"  Insert: lesbian, black, homosexual, HIV positive, mentally ill, Pakistani, etcetera on the line. So why using the Mexicans as an easy target?